Page 124 of A Very Merry Mistake

“I’ll make sure I’m home,” I promise.

“You’re a Christmas miracle. Thank you again for everything,” she offers as she walks me to the door. I give her another wave and make my way to the coffee shop on the corner. It’s got large windows out front, and inside I see a few people tapping away on their laptops. When I enter, the bell above the door dings, and I go to the counter.

“Black coffee,” I say.

The woman behind the counter shakes her head. “That’s a Grinch drink.”

I furrow my brows. “So you won’t make me a black coffee?”

“Babe, you gotta live a little. Try something else.”

I laugh. “Surprise me, then.”

“My favorite words,” she says. “What size?”

Before I can answer, she holds up her hand. “Never mind. You look like the type of woman who wants it large.”

She goes to the espresso machine and brews some shots, mixes different syrups inside, adds a splash of something, then rings me up. I read her nametag.

“What does BJ stand for?” I ask.

“Bristol Jolly.”

I laugh and shake my head.

“Why is that funny? Upset it’s not a weird blow job joke?”

“God, no. Are you related to Jake?” I sip my coffee, and caffeine and sugar explode in my mouth, but it’s not too overwhelming and finishes light. “This is great.”

“JJ? Yeah, he’s my cousin. Wait, are you Claire?” she asks. “You’re back in town?”

I guess everyone in Merryville knows who I am. I shrug with a grin and extend my hand, and she shakes it. “Nice to meet you. I didn’t realize he had more cousins. And yeah, I officially moved here. Just bought a house on Candy Cane Lane.”

“Couldn’t have predicted that one.” She’s confident and doesn’t seem to care about who I am, and I like that.

“Me, either. Anyway, why weren’t you at Moonshiners the night I met everyone?”

“I’m twenty. They don’t like it when I sneak in, so I don’t try anymore. They caught me using Wendy and Bella’s licenses far too many times. They’re my older sisters.”

“I can see the resemblance.” I take another sip. “This coffee is great. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You, too. Need anything else?”

I glance around and see a shelf of coffee beans from the local roasters. I grab two bags, and she adds them to my total. I swipe my card and then make my way to the general store.

Call me spoiled, but I’ve never been grocery shopping. I’ve always had my food delivered each week.

When I walk in and see all the food and fruit and bread, I’m amazed. It’s foreign to me, but I grab a cart and walk down every aisle with my coffee cup in tow.

I buy anything and everything. I take the basket across the street, and it clanks and shudders on the pavement. People stare, but I’m at the point in my life where I don’t give a fuck. I’m happy because I’m in Merryville, and the man I’ve fallen head over heels with kissed me today. And that’s all that matters.

After I pull into my driveway, I get out, and as soon as I glance at the tree in the back, sprinkles hit my cheeks. I look up at the angry sky. Part of me had hoped the forecast I read earlier was wrong.

Clearly, it wasn’t, so I pick up my pace.

After I drop the tailgate, I grab the stump of the tree and tug on it using all my weight. I inch it back, pulling it until it falls on the ground with a whoosh. The branches are tied tightly together, so at least I don’t have to wrestle with it too much. Turning around, I grab it with both hands and drag it across the driveway and up the sidewalk. It’s heavy, so I have to take a quick breather before I go up the steps. Tree needles mark the trail I took. When thunder rolls, I continue up the steps, then I realize the tree stand I bought hasn’t been delivered yet. So I give up, leaving it until I have everything in place for it to be set up.

I unlock the door, then I rush to the truck and grab as many grocery bags as I can, sliding them up my arm. They dig into my skin, but it’s either that or make five hundred trips, and considering it’s now raining, I opt for the temporary pain.

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